My Sandpaper

"Every once in a while", a wise friend of mine said, "God sends you a sandpaper. This sandpaper will rub against you, irk you and will work on you in ways you had never imagined. But remember, God has sent this sandpaper to you to work on you... to change you into His likeness. So when you talk to your sandpaper remember Ephesians 4:32... you are asked to be kind... God is talking to you there, and not to your sandpaper."

So when I got a chance, instead of flipping the pages of the Bible, I surfed my way to www.biblegateway.com. (I love technology that brings scriptures to my computer's screen in just a few clicks!) Paul writes in Ephesians (4:32), be kind and compassionate... forgiving... just as God in Christ is also forgiving you! Eugene Peterson in his translation says, be gentle... sensitive... forgive... quickly and thoroughly...

When I read those verses, I found it very hard to show kindness, to show compassion... after all, I am being falsely accused... it is my work that is being trodden upon! So why should I show kindness??? I went backwards in that chapter to see if there was any reason to show kindness, compassion, sensitivity, and forgiveness. I found the reason in the first verse... it is so that I can live a life that reflects my relationship with God. Relationship. A great word.

So I decided to write down or rather print out Ephesians 4. I read it. I read it again after a couple of hours. I took it with me as I drove, and read it when I stopped at the traffic lights. I decided to exercise my relationship with God... and prayed. I cannot do it... I need your help, God. A peace settled in my heart. Intentional kindness. I cannot show it. But God can work in my heart to change me... to change my attitude... to show intentional kindness. God did that... when I met my sandpaper face to face, I could show intentional kindness without any bitterness in my heart. Relationship. I am so grateful that God offered it to me with Him.

Thank you my sandpaper for a valuable lesson I learnt... because of you.